Aquatic amusement device

ABSTRACT

An aquatic amusement device having an elongated, generally planar body and including a forward rotatably mounted buoyant float near the front of said body and a smaller rear rotatably mounted buoyant float in a detachable rear section of the body, each of which floats has its plane of rotation parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body; said floats being defined by an operating surface having a center cylinder section of predetermined diameter and a plurality of side cylinder sections on each side of said center cylinder section of smaller diameter than said center cylinder section with annular circular planar sections joining each cylinder section, and there being further provided foot stirrups on said body to permit a person to stand on the device and be pulled by some means.

United States Patent [72] lnventor Russell E. Rauch Garden Grove, Calif. [21] Appl. No. 793,080 [22] Filed Jan. 22, 1969 [45] Patented Mar. 23, 1971 [54] AQUATIC AMUSEMENT DEVICE 12 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 9/310, 1 15/20 [51] 1nt.Cl A63c 15/02 [50] Field of Search 9/310; 115/19, 23; ll4/235.l;272/l; 115/20 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,104,229 7/1914 Szegel 115/19 1,341,375 5/1920 Le Jeune 115/19 3,056,148 10/1962 Abbott et a1... 9/310 3,145,399 8/1964 Jackson 9/310 FOREIGN PATENTS 700,937 l/l93l France 115/19 264,158 4/1929 Italy 115/19 Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Sauberer Attorney-Noel G. Conway ABSTRACT: An aquatic amusement device having an elongated, generally planar body and including a forward rotatably mounted buoyant float near the front of said body and a smaller rear rotatably mounted buoyant float in a detachable rear section of the body, each of which floats has its plane of rotation parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body; said floats being defined by an operating surface having a center cylinder section of predetermined diameter and a plurality of side cylinder sections on each side of said center cylinder section of smaller diameter than said center cylinder section with annular circular planar sections joining each cylinder section, and there being further provided foot stirrups on said body to permit a person to stand on the device and be pulled by some means.

PMENIEDMWBIETI 3,571,832

I N V E NTOR. RUSSELL ERfll/CH rraefier AQlUATllC AMUSEMENT DEVllClE This invention relates to aquatic amusement devices, and more particularly to such devices which are well suited to perrnit a person to stand thereon and be pulled by some means such as a boat.

Briefly, the present invention includes a water vehicle having thereon one or more rotatably mounted buoyant floats thereon on which the vehicle can ride at high speeds. A preferable use of the invention is as a water sled, in which case, there are provided a plurality of foot stirrups to receive the users feet and the user can be pulled by means such as a boat.

One aspect of the present invention is the particular rotatable floats which are preferably used. As will be described, the rotatable float has an external surface which provides an operating surface which is particularly useful in a water sled device, and can also be useful in. other water vehicles such as high speed boats. The external surface of the rotatable float provides an operating surface of unique shape. More particularly, according to this aspect of the invention, the operating surface preferably includes a center cylinder section with a plurality of side cylinder sections disposed on either side of the center section, which side sections are progressively smaller as they are spaced away from the center cylinder section. Thereby, the side cylinder sections of smallest diameter are furthest away from the center cylinder section. On the operating surface, each pair of adjacent cylinder sections is joined by an annular joinder surface which extends substantially parallel to the plane of rotation of the float. Thereby, these joinder surfaces provide resistance tending to prevent the float from skidding to the right or to the left. This is particularly useful in water sleds and in other vehicles such as high speed boats.

Another aspect of certain preferred embodiments of the present invention is that they are well suited to be used in water sleds either with a rear section having a second smaller rotatable float, or with no such rear section. Thereby, the device can more easily accommodate the varied desires of the users.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a major object of this invention to provide an improved aquatic amusement device.

it is a further object of this invention to provide an aquatic amusement device having one or more rotatable floats which will support the device when it is moving rapidly across the water.

it is another object of this invention to provide an aquatic amusement device which can be used in several ways to accommodate different desires of the users.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved buoyant rotatable float having increased ability to resist sideward motion of the float.

it is a still further object of this invention to provide an aquatic amusement device having a forward section with a larger rotatable float and a detachable rear section with a smaller rotatable float in order to accommodate at lesser cost the varied desires of the users.

it is still another object of this invention to provide an aquatic amusement device which is susceptible to being manufactured at a low cost, and which may be economically maintained.

Other and further objects of this invention will become apparent in the detailed description below in connection with the attached drawings wherein:

FlG. ll is a planar view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

H6. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the device taken along line 2-2 in H6. il;

HG. 3; is a cross-sectional view of the rear section of the device taken along line 3-3 in MG. 2; H6. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the device taken along line 44l in FllG. ll, and showing the larger rotatable float;

FlG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in H0. 2 disclosing details of a preferred manner of removably securing the rear section of the device to the front section of the device; and,

FlG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view disclosing a second preferred embodiment of a buoyant rotatable float which can be used with the device shown in FIG. l.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIG. li, there is shown an aquatic device, indicated generally by the arrow lltl, incorporating principles of the present invention. The aquatic device it) is a sled which is particularly suited to have a person stand thereon while being drawn across the water at high speeds. The device it) comprises an elongated, generally planar main body ill which can be made of some material such as fiberglass, plastic, or wood. This main body ll includes a front end 12 immediately in front of an enlarged midportion which has left side section 13 and right side section 14 thereon. As can best be seen in FIG. 4, the side sections l3 and M are curved upwardly as they extend toward the outer edge in order to facilitate turning the device in a manner to be described below.

Disposed behind the midportion, there is a rear portion in which includes a removably mounted rear section l7. The rear section 17 can be removably mounted by any one of several means. By way of example, it is preferred that the rear section 17 be secured to the rear portion l6 through the use ol'dowel pins 18 and bolts 20. (See FlG. Sin particular).

At the above-mentioned midportion, there is located a rotatably buoyant float 22 (to be described further below) which is rotatably mounted on axle 23. The axle 23 extends at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the main body ll. Therefore, the plane of rotation of the float 22 is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body. As can be seen, the float 22 is received through a hole 25 in the main body ll. As the float 22 is rotating at high speed, there is provided a cover 26 in order that the water will not spray up at the user.

ln the rear section 17, there is a smaller hole 20 which has a cover 31 thereover for a purpose to be described.

As mentioned above, the present device is to be used with the user standing up on the device and holding on to a tow rope. Accordingly, there are provided a plurality of foot stirrups on the main body ll. As seen best in FlGS. i and 2, there is provided on the longitudinal axis of the body 1i immediately to the rear of the float 22 a foot stirrup 34. This foot stirrup 34 is substantially the same as foot stirrups used on water skis and includes a toe piece 35 and a heel piece 36. lmmediately to the rear of the foot stirrup 34 is a foot stirrup 37 which only includes a toe piece 38.

Located immediately in front of the float 22 there is provided a stirrup 450 which is substantially the same as the stirrup 34 and is also located on the longitudinal axis of the main body ill as is the foot stirrup 34.

On the left and right-hand sides of the float 22 are provided left stirrup 41': and right-hand stirrup 42 respectively, These stirrups are the same as the stirrup 34, and therefore, will not be described in further detail. lt should be particularly noted that these stirrups 4i and 42 are each located on, or even with, the axis of rotation of the float 22. This is for a purpose which will be described later.

At this time, the rotatable float 22 will be described in further detail. As can best be seen in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the float 22 has an external surface which provides an operating surface which operates the water as the device it) is drawn across the water. The operating surface of the float 22 includes a center cylinder section 44 having a cylindrical face &5 with right-hand cylinder section 46 on the right side of the cylinder section Ml. These right side cylinder sections 46 each have cylindrical faces 47. As can be seen, the right side sections as which are further away from the center cylinder section M are progressively smaller in diameter. Thereby, there is provided on the operating surface a right side face section at between each respective adjacent cylindrical faces 47.

On the left side of the float 22, there are provided a plurality of left side cylinder sections 5t) which are each progressively smaller in diameter as they are spaced away from the center cylinder section 4iias in the case of the right side cylinder sections 46. Each left side cylinder section 50 has a cylindrical face 51, the diameter of which is progressively smaller as the particular face is spaced further away from the center cylinder section 44. Thereby, a plurality ofleft side face sections 52 are provided on the operating surface, joining each respective adjacent cylindrical faces 51.

The just described embodiment of the invention has the advantage that each of the cylindrical faces 45, 47, and 51 operate in a maximum manner to provide the maximum amount of support for the device as it is being pulled across the water. Additionally, the described operating surface of the float 22 has the great advantage that the right side face sections 48 and the left side face sections 52 resist sideward motion of the device in much the same manner as a keel on a boat. This particular important advantage of this preferred embodiment of the invention makes the rotatable float useful on high speed powered boats as well as the type of device shown.

As mentioned previously the rear section 17 has a hole 30 therein. There is located in the hole 30 a smaller rotatable float 59 which is very similar to the float 22. The float 59 is rotatably mounted on axle 60 to the rear section 17 of the main body ll. And, as can be seen, the axle 60 is parallel to the axle 23, and accordingly, the axis of rotation of the float 59 is parallel to the axis of rotation of the float 22. Further, it can be seen that the float 59 lies on the longitudinal axis of the main body It, and the plane of rotation of the last-mentioned float is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body.

The float 59 includes a center cylinder section 61 having a cylindrical face 62 of predetermined diameter. Right side cylinder sections 63 on the float 59 each have a cylindrical face 64 joined by right side face sections 65. On the left side of the float 59, there are provided a plurality of left side cylinder sections 66, each of which has a cylindrical face 67 joined by left side face section 68. As in the case of the float 22, the side cylinder sections 63 and 66 are progressively smaller in diameter as they are spaced away from the center cylinder section 61.

As in the case of the float 22, the cylindrical faces 62, 64. and 67 give support to the body 11 as the device is pulled across the water. And, the right and left side face sections 65 and 68 respectively serve to give maximum resistance to sideward motion of the rotatable float-permitting the user to steer the craft to a greater extent.

In FIG. 6, there is shown a second preferred embodiment of a rotatable float which can be used with the present invention. in this FlG. there is shown a main body 11a having a float 70 rotatably mounted therein on an axle 71. This float 70 is received in a hole 72 in the main body Ila.

As can be seen, the float 70 has a left side spherical section 73 and a right side spherical section 74. However, there is provided a centrally disposed annular rib 75 extending in the plane of rotation of the float 70. Further, this particular float is provided with a large number of serrations 78 in order to augment the turning of the float as the device is drawn across the water. For the same purpose as the cover 26, there is provided a cover 77 over the float 70.

ln many instances, the float disclosed in FIG. 6 will be sufficient to accomplish the desired result. However, the floats 22 and 59 are definitely preferred as they give greater stability against sideward motion, and have greater lifting ability than a float such as the float 70.

The embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIG. 1 can be used in many ways. When the user is first learning to use it, he will normally leave the rear sections 17 on. Then, he will place one of his feet in the foot stirrup 34, and his other foot in the foot stirrup 37, much the same as skiing on a single water ski. As is well-known, the party skiing will tend to go from one side of the boat to the other. it is very important to note'how the left and right side of face sections 48 and 52 and 65 and 68 can function to permit the user to turn the device 10 at substantial angles to the direction of travel of the tow boat. When the user is turning, he will lean the main body 11 toward the appropriate side. Therefore, the side sections 13 and 14 have been curved upwardly to keep the user's weight on the float 22.

After the user has become more proficient, he may very well desire to remove the rear section 17 and use the forward section by itself. In such case, the user has his choice of placing one foot in the foot stirrup 34 and the other foot in the foot stirrup 40. 40. With this orientation, the user can balance his weight on the float 22. Additionally, the user might place his feet in the foot stirrups 41 and 42. Here again, his weight can be balanced on the float 22 and thereby maximize the results obtained from the float. Alternatively, he may want to leave the rear section 17 attached when using the stirrups 4| and 42 or the stirrups 34 and 40.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the arts that the embodiments of the invention shown in the attached drawings and described herein are by way of example only, and numerous changes can be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Also, it will be apparent to those skilled in the an that vehicles incorporating the principles of the present invention can be used on snow and gain the benefits of the invention. Therefore, the term aquatic in this specification and the claims appended hereto, includes such material which is so much like water. Further, since the rollers will be supporting the vehicle as it travels across the snow, the term float" in this specification and the claims appended hereto would include a roller of the type described herein, whether or not the particular roller was less dense than the material over which the vehicle was travelling.

lclaim:

1. An aquatic amusement device comprising:

an elongated generally planar body having a longitudinal axis and including a forward section and a rear section; mounting means on said body for permitting a person to mount himselfon said device;

float means on said body, said float means including a float rotatably mounted on said body for rotation about an axis parallel to the plane of said body with the plane of rotation of the float being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body, the external surface of said float defining an operating surface, said operating surface including:

a centrally disposed cylinder section of a first predetermined diameter;

at least one side cylinder section disposed on either side of said centrally disposed cylinder section, said side cylinder sections being of a predetermined diameter which is less than the predetermined diameter of said centrally disposed cylinder section:

an annular planar face joining said centrally disposed cylinder sections with each of said side cylinder sections, whereby when said device is moved through water said cylinder sections afford a lift to the device and said annular planar faces act to resist sideward motion of the vehicle relative to the water.

2. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein: the operating surface of said float being defined by a series of cylinder surface sections of predetermined diameters, the cylinder section having the largest diameter being centrally disposed on said float, the cylinder sections having successively smaller diameters as they are disposed successively away from said centrally disposed largest diameter cylinder section, a joinder surface section between each adjacent cylinder section.

3. The device set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said joinder sections is substantially planar, and lies in the plane of rotation of said float.

4. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said operating surface of said rotating float comprises: a plurality of cylindrical sections of predetermined size, width and diameter, the cyiindrical section intermediate to adjacent cylindrical sections being larger than at least one of said cylindrical sections, ajoinder surface sectionjoining each adjacent pair of cylindrical sections.

5. The device set forth in claim ll wherein said rotating float has an operating surface including: a plurality of planing surfaces which extend substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the float, said planing sections being substantially circular and being of a predetermined diameter.

6. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes: at least one foot stirrup secured to said body in proximity to said float.

7. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said means includes: a first foot stirrup secured to said body on one side of said float at the axis of rotation of said float and a second foot stirrup secured to said body on the other side of said float on the axis of rotation of said float.

8. The device set forth in claim I wherein said mounting means includes: first and second foot stirrups secured to said body on said longitudinal axis with said foot stirrup being located immediately in front of saidfloat and said second foot stirrup being located immediately in back of said float.

9. The device set forth in claim I wherein said body has thereon a rear section and including: a second rotatable float rotatably mounted on said body on said longitudinal axis of said body; said second float being rotatable on an axis which is parallel to the axis of rotation of said first float.

10. The device set forth in claim 9 wherein said second float has an operating surface including: a plurality of planing surfaces which extend substantially parallel to said axis of rotation of said second float, said planing sections being substan tially circular and being of predetermined diameter.

11. The device set forth in claim 9 wherein said mounting means includes: a first and a second foot stirrup located on said longitudinal axis at a position located between said first and second rotatable float.

12. The device set forth in claim'9 wherein said rear section of said body is removably secured to the remainder of said body. 1 

1. An aquatic amusement device comprising: an elongated generally planar body having a longitudinal axis and including a forward section and a rear section; mounting means on said body for permitting a person to mount himself on said device; float means on said body, said float meaNs including a float rotatably mounted on said body for rotation about an axis parallel to the plane of said body with the plane of rotation of the float being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body, the external surface of said float defining an operating surface, said operating surface including: a centrally disposed cylinder section of a first predetermined diameter; at least one side cylinder section disposed on either side of said centrally disposed cylinder section, said side cylinder sections being of a predetermined diameter which is less than the predetermined diameter of said centrally disposed cylinder section; an annular planar face joining said centrally disposed cylinder sections with each of said side cylinder sections, whereby when said device is moved through water said cylinder sections afford a lift to the device and said annular planar faces act to resist sideward motion of the vehicle relative to the water.
 2. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein: the operating surface of said float being defined by a series of cylinder surface sections of predetermined diameters, the cylinder section having the largest diameter being centrally disposed on said float, the cylinder sections having successively smaller diameters as they are disposed successively away from said centrally disposed largest diameter cylinder section, a joinder surface section between each adjacent cylinder section.
 3. The device set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said joinder sections is substantially planar, and lies in the plane of rotation of said float.
 4. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said operating surface of said rotating float comprises: a plurality of cylindrical sections of predetermined size, width and diameter, the cylindrical section intermediate to adjacent cylindrical sections being larger than at least one of said cylindrical sections; a joinder surface section joining each adjacent pair of cylindrical sections.
 5. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said rotating float has an operating surface including: a plurality of planing surfaces which extend substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the float, said planing sections being substantially circular and being of a predetermined diameter.
 6. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes: at least one foot stirrup secured to said body in proximity to said float.
 7. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said means includes: a first foot stirrup secured to said body on one side of said float at the axis of rotation of said float and a second foot stirrup secured to said body on the other side of said float on the axis of rotation of said float.
 8. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes: first and second foot stirrups secured to said body on said longitudinal axis with said foot stirrup being located immediately in front of said float and said second foot stirrup being located immediately in back of said float.
 9. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein said body has thereon a rear section and including: a second rotatable float rotatably mounted on said body on said longitudinal axis of said body, said second float being rotatable on an axis which is parallel to the axis of rotation of said first float.
 10. The device set forth in claim 9 wherein said second float has an operating surface including: a plurality of planing surfaces which extend substantially parallel to said axis of rotation of said second float, said planing sections being substantially circular and being of predetermined diameter.
 11. The device set forth in claim 9 wherein said mounting means includes: a first and a second foot stirrup located on said longitudinal axis at a position located between said first and second rotatable float.
 12. The device set forth in claim 9 wherein said rear section of said body is removably secured to the remainder of said body. 